New Delhi: Indian women’s hockey team clashed with Australia in the semi-finals match in the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. The score went 1-1 in the regular time, while Australia won the match 3-0 in the penalty shootout, but the focus has now shifted to a blunder by the officials that cost India the match.
In the penalty shootout, Indian captain Savita Punia executed a brilliant save against Australia’s Ambrosia Malone. It was then that the umpire informed that the technical director did not start the clock and the stroke was to be retaken. The Indian team protested against the decision, while the commentators, as well as the fans, were in disbelief. When the shot was taken again, Malone managed to convert it this time. Eventually, Australia won with a margin of 3-0 as Kaitlin Nobbs and Amy Lawton scored while Neha Goyal and Navneet Kaur failed to put the ball in the goal post.
This loss ended India’s dream to be in the finals of the Birmingham game, however, the team will play the bronze medal match against New Zealand. Even the game between England and New Zealand was tied at 0-0 when the English team won the game in the penalty shootout by scoring two goals.
Indian fans, including sports experts, are furious about this howler. Netizens are pouring in comments on social media referring to the incident as shameful. Cricketer Virender Sehwag shared the video along with his views on the incident.
Penalty miss hua Australia se and the Umpire says, Sorry Clock start nahi hua. Such biasedness used to happen in cricket as well earlier till we became a superpower, Hockey mein bhi hum jald banenge and all clocks will start on time. Proud of our girls ??pic.twitter.com/mqxJfX0RDq
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 6, 2022
Sack umpires & have a shootout again. This video shows the grand heist! It was clearly 10 s from 1st whistle to the last. Why wasn’t a video referral be taken? At least an apology from @FIH_Hockey & @thecgf is needed. MUST PROTEST #cheating #hockeyindia @ianuragthakur @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/sdTOvoYKnD
— Sanjeev Gupta (@sanjg2k1) August 6, 2022
This is not fair. What happened today in hockey is unfair. @savitahockey and her team have given it their all. @TheHockeyIndia If officials make basic mistakes why should India have to suffer for it?
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) August 5, 2022
Some fans went furious while others went speechless seeing India’s captain Savita Punia cry during the post-match presentation.
Speechless, sleepless?#CWG2022 #Hockey #cheating pic.twitter.com/6XbwZrAFWV
— Anurag Mundhra (अनुराग मूंधड़ा ) (@mundhra_anurag) August 5, 2022
Literally can’t see them like this. They gave their 100%. All their hardwork goes in vain bcoz of mismanagement.??#INDvsAUS #hockey #CommonwealthGames22 #unfair #cheating pic.twitter.com/kC0krsVoG8
— Gaurav Daga (@Gauravdaga29) August 5, 2022
“Such decisions (the one at the start of the shootout) are tough to take but it’s part of sport and you have to accept it.”
– India captain Savita Punia, nearly in tears, with a classy take.#CWG2022 #Hockey #hockeyindia #INDvsAUS #CWG2022India #CommonwealthGames2022 pic.twitter.com/kdFVMKsUpW
— Madhav Singh ? (@Send4Singh) August 5, 2022
#Hockey #CWG2022India #INDvsAUS #savitapunia
Chin up mam ❤ You absolute legend. These tears will have it’s vengence. Karma is a bitch. ? But every indian salutes you and you’re winners for us ❤? We bow down to you and other members. You all are queens ? pic.twitter.com/1zAx3r2dnE— Kannan Murali (@ANANTHU089) August 5, 2022
Commonwealth Games Birmingham
Are you kidding me???
The excuse: Clock has not been started in Shoot out IndW vs AusW Hockey Semi Final
Unbelievable!! Big Joke#CWG2022 #Hockey #india— Meet Yadav (@TheCricInformer) August 5, 2022
People also pointed out the timer issue in the men’s bronze medal match in the Tokyo Olympics.
Timer didn’t stop at #Tokyo2022
Timer didn’t start at #Birmigham2022
How does such things happen with Team India at the big events! ? Not fair! ?#Hockey #CWG2022 #B2022
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) August 5, 2022
Timer stopped in Tokyo, timer doesn’t start here ? #cheating #Hockey #INDvsAUSpic.twitter.com/XxR7y7Q77P
— KiRAN (@Duggavati_kiran) August 6, 2022
